Brake applying mechanism



Mafch 9, 1948. c, s, McCARTHY I 2,437,396

BRAKE APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

CHARLESS Mc CARTHY ATTORNEYS March 9, 1948. c. $(McCARTHY BRAKE APPLYING MECHANISM- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1944 INVENTOR.

CHARLES S.McCARTHY BY o ATTORNEYS March 9, 1948. c. s. MCCARTHY BRAKE APPLYING MECHANISM Fild Dec. 28, i944 5 Sheets-Sheet s mmm mmN

HVVENTUR.

I CHARLES $.MOCARTHY BY v hmm ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 9, 1948 OFFICE BRAKE APPLYING IVIECHANISM Charles S. McCarthy, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to American Forging and Socket Company, Pontiac, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 28, 1944, Serial No. 570,082

13 claims.

The present invention relates to brake levers or more specifically to a means for actuating the brakes of a vehicle.

In the conventional brake actuating means substantially universal use is made of a hand lever movement that much power need be used as it is.

only then that the brakes are actually being applied. This being the case, it would be desirable to provide for a quick early movement of the brake handle and an increased leverage in the later movement.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a means giving such result by mechanism having a variable leverage ratio increasing toward the brake applying end of the stroke.

Another object is a brake applying means having a variable leverage ratio that increases with cable load or with increase in resistance due to brake application.

Another feature'of the conventional brake operating lever or pull is that some sort of ratchet or similarly acting means must be providedto maintain the brake application. Such means may be the cause of serious accidents if it should fail or if the operator should neglect to assure its use.

Another object of the present invention therefore is brake operating means that is self-locking in brake applied position.

Still another object is brake locking means which is completely automatic so that the operator can not fail to lock the brakes.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmeans embodying the present invention, the figure showing the parts in two positions. I

Figure 2 is a section on line v22 of' Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified form.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of another form of embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6' is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figures 7 and 8 are views of details of construction of the construction shown in Figure 5.

In the drawings there are indicated brakes operated by means of a cable but it should be understood that the handle mechanism shown may be used With suitable linkage if desired. The

mechanism shown in the drawing may be mounted in suitable fashion under the instrument board it and secured to the dash ll of a vehicle with the hand grip l2 below the board I0 and in an accessible position. As shown, the mechanism consists of a track or rail 20 preferably made by fixing together back-to-back two channel membersof suitable form so as to provide a'groove 20A along the upper edge of the track.

This track 20 has fixed thereto, at a suitable location near the forward end; a standard 2| at the upper end-of which is attached in swinging or hinged relation a short'link 22. The link 22 is one portion of a toggle of which the other member is a somewhat longerlink 23, the two links being hinged together, at 24, and link 23 is, at its other end hinged to the slide'member 25 as at 26.

It will be noted from Figure 2 that, link 22 is composed of two sid'e portions which may or may not be integrallyconne'cted by a back portion, but are in any event spaced from each other by a perforated block'3fl carrying laterally projecting pins 3] which pass through the ends of the two side arms of the link; a

The link 23, as shown'in Figure 2, consistsof a pin 33, the upper end of ,which passes loosely through the block 30 and the lower end 34 of which is enlarged or headed and fixed to a stirrup -35 carrying a heel 36, the purposeof which will compression spring 33A carried between the block 30 and the head 34, calibrated orselected to equal the desired maximum pull to be exerted on the brakes.

The stirrup '35 is of suflicient width to accommodate a small roller 31 having a peripheral rib 38 adapted to coact with the groove 20A in track 20 and both stirrup 35 and roller 31 are mounted in the slide 25 by'a through pin 39 forming the axis of the roller and located in line with the axis of pin 33.

The slide 25 is also provided with a small additional roll 40 to aid in minimizing the friction of the slide on the track and also to cooperate with the curved up end 203 of the track 20 in limiting the movement of the slide so as to prevent the aligning of the toggle links. To .the lower portion of the slide is fixed .the extension member 25A carrying the hand grip I2.

It will also be noted from Figure 2 that the as block Bland pins 3| carry the two upper ends of ."the're is n o s img fa on cable 46. By the time that the slide has moved" roughly about one third of its. travel, the lost motion or slack in the brake mechanism has been taken up since in this part 'of its moi?ei'rie'ht,jth link 23 has nearly reached its vertical position.

Further movement of the slide 25 wm issmt in the operating elements are identical in principle with those of Figures 1 and 2, but are shown as somewhat different in detail and with an added feature-an additional locking means designed to eliminate brake release by any chance or jarring A01 accidental push on the handle. In this form, whichisthe preferred form, of the device, the track ;20 may be substantially identical with the previously described tracks'ar i'd'the'sa'ine may be said for links 22, and parts of link 23.

' In Figure 5 the make-up of link 223 is the same as link 23, iexcept that the stirrup is of the form shown at 235, Figures 5 to '7. This stirrup con- 'ls'ists if a "tbpfo'rtio'n 236, to which is fixed the further upward movement of the cable, but

greatly increased leverage, until link 23, becomes vertical, at which time the cable 46 will have had m im mi em it-i... s 7 s i ime, mo e qflie slide =2 iw i mq ihfs t e i e e eifd i i 'ei b sm verticalfalignm nt anig'con'sequenftlm spring 33A an ca 'P J Q Q .fiQLfii F1Z QS i Z t wi eht n. .i the slide. n j-lowever, only a small movement beyond teeter is permitted since "the heeli s strikes the track and acts as iafstop The movement beyond "center 0; link zii is suiiicienthliowever to lock and maintain lockedthe daible-fls'ih its up- Ward q i n- .s x. a t

It should be 'noted th'at in applying the brakes, ii the operatoriails tqjrnove the handle "l2 to its extreme forw'a rcl, jrilbsition, that ls, if he stops short of mo ing the link 23 "to its vertical position, the toggleiwill"immediately return to its straightened "position when. pull on the handle ceases. I Ie is, therefore, "alwaysqput "on notice by the handle itseir as to "the mks-a "oi unlocked 'condition'ofthebrakes A r I In the operation of thfe device fjufs'tv described, the spring 33A is compresse .ni'ore 'or less dependupon the amoun oi lslack or lost motion to b'eta'ken up. infcase's whereth'earnount of slack "small the efcmpressiqn cf spring 33A "occurs itliain infthos'e e ses where the slack is greater. When, therefore, the amount of slack is small, the slideiiandl'iandle 12 move a i'shorte'r distance in flrimya i Iying and locking the brakes than they dowl'ifenfthere is fmore slack.

v lie mange wev'er increases in the same way in F ure 3 f "de ticaim 'mdstresp' ctswith .I h z qi l s t t f' iiiiii l i e i j 'biit a spring providing for new in the brake applying pull is placed the cable {16 This spring A may bej'eitlir a. tensidn'orcompresn s "w in idence-i s i e1fi1 i may be a jsi'niple u-sna ea membe embracin the roller '31 we; pivotedor hinged "to slide "25 than resistmovement of however,

by'the pin 39. The "other end of tlielink 123 "is h n edt n ib w ssulta ie pin 2 wh h as in t'heother form, 'arzfiesalso he se ders, suit- "ablejspacersfor fwasliers ZtAbifigjiseds g 'in't ls. w 'mic in i ne; e ve s rai of link 123 isalwaysfthe "samfaniifco seduntly the 65m 6f sa enominates: s 'to'ii,

post 33-, and depending side plates 23! between r W provided withputwardly turned pqnigins vpatt' eiijr1 .t a d e s s.

The slide 225 is likewise -"s"o ewhat' diiiernt, in that it t nds tween eo rn' m xim a d is formed-to receive resen of thefbdZfiA carrying thefihandle 21 2. N This rod 225A extends through "the fdrnfed portion of the slide arid has fixed 'theretofa :It'tblfijliilllbl 24 0, twoviews of which aresfid' 'nin-Figur'jes 5ran'd 6. This latch membefzqli' sists ?'of a sis-amm n tes, fixed tojod '22 A, 'a d airr'a In pijrtio'n 240B 'eiitending sufiici'e'ntly high 'ofloeoppjositei the segmem tr erlt is ra ma-23 e t he: n t a m portion is provided with 9, lug or nose "241 which projects "lirpju'ghfa suitable slot in the side wan e i fie fii mm f A notched at 23a This 'notjcp gas in sfuchjpos'ifiion that whe'n the brakes areffully onand locked due to tl'feposition "of link 23; the notch is pssitibnfto be "engagedby the nose 2 4I Eurthenin such a posit on 16f name, the wings '2 message "the edges of the slide 225*t'o prevent'ruftherhiovement"thereof'gfa'sfshown'in meme-'5. s 4 I g In'ordertb provide 'tl'ieitftjlie latch zaowiu enter n rfernain s "as; the "r'b'd'zzsn may Id'eresi'liEn ytow station 'inearfs of a s'uitabl'espring 25h mounted "on the rod and'li'a'v ing one end fixed thereto while'fthe other and of thepring fis fixer; tbjt'hie slide. Further, murder Q 1" 1 dve'fre'elyfioin'onend of 'track to' he ornentne cable "11111; br stirrup 2'45 is fs iirmfeidfwi thfifs lowereriiibdwed outwardly asat'iw'A (Figures); I x I 7 "I "tidnioi thisfoi'i i crustacean; bgilfs 1 1' and 2, butina'dditfdntlie latch Mai -aintains the partsin the f1'ill iliiie pas-men or Figure 5: 1 tu'releaseq 's' f' par'talfi'iitation'offhandie '2 2 and until trieliandi is t nist ifiwar'dl 'tc iiio've link 2 23 fromi'tsi'vrtical pesitidn.

lIclaimn Q 1. s-bra e operating means an 'tiemeiitfcanr nectea in operative relation to and movable to apply said brakes, a stationary rail, a slide mavable e g hwise pne'riir; "a (link pivoteilat 'bne 'end'to said siiae'aand 'atit'sdthefi' anathemaab le element, a stationary "standard; 'a afleiam link pivoted atoii'efend to d. stan ard an at h I entand saidfiistenm ne link, means 'fd mg saidslidef'and links, wh er'eby 't-oeaiis'e s I a first-mentioned link to change-Desi 'onfroin aniriitial po'si tiBnY at'an "75 therebymovesaid brake'applyin'gelment.

able lengthwise thereof,a link pivoted at one end to said slide, and at its other end to said movable element, a. stationary standard, a fulcrum link pivoted at one end to said standard and at itsother end to both said element and said firstmentioned link, means for moving said slide and links, whereby to cause said first-mentioned link to change position from an initial position at an acute angle with said rail toward and beyond a position normal to said rail to thereby move said brake applying element and means to limit the movement of said first-mentioned link beyond the normal position.

3. In vehicle brake applying means, a substantially horizontal rail, a slide thereon, a standard fixed thereto, a toggle pivoted at one end to said slide and at its other end to said standard, means for maintaining said toggle in slight upwardly bent condition and in near parallel relation to said rail when said brakes are idle, brake operating means connected to the intermediate pivot of said toggle, means for manually moving said slide toward said standard whereby said toggle is bent further upwardly and said brake operating means is actuated.

4. In vehicle brake applying means, a substantially horizontal rail, a slide thereon, a standard fixed thereto, a toggle pivoted at one end to said slide and at its other end to said standard, means for maintaining said toggle in slight upwardly bent condition and in near parallel relation to said rail when said brakes are idle, brake operating means connected to the intermediate pivot of said toggle, means for moving said slide toward said standard whereby said toggle is bent further upwardly and said brake operating means is actuated, and stop means operative to prevent further movement of that member of the toggle pivoted to the slide when it has proceeded beyond a vertical position.

5. In brake operating means an element connected in operative relation to and movable to apply said brakes, a stationary rail, a slide movable lengthwise thereof, a longitudinally resilient link pivoted at one end to said slide and at the other end to said movable element, means for moving said slide and link, and means to cause said link to change position from an initial posimality therewith when said slide is moved in one direction to thereby move said brake applying element.

6. In brake operating means an element connected in operative relation to and movable toapply said brakes, a stationary rail, a, slide movable lengthwise thereof, a longitudinally resilient link pivoted at one end to said slide and at its other end to said movable element, means for moving said slide and link, means to cause said link to change position from an initial position at a small acute angle with said rail to and beyond a position normal to said rail to thereby move said brake applying element and means to limit the movement of said link beyond the normal position.

7. In vehicle brake applying means, a substantially horizontal rail, a slide thereon, a standard fixed thereto, a toggle pivoted at one end to said slide and at its other end to said standard, that link of said toggle pivoted to said slide being longitudinally resilient, means for preventing movement ofv said slide away from said standard be- -tion at a small acute angle with said rail to norana a position wherein said toggle is in ight lil wardly'bent conditionand in near parallel relation to said rail, brake operating means connected to the intermediate pivot of said toggle, means for moving said slide toward said standard whereby said toggle is bent further upwardly and said brake operating means isactuated.

8. In brake'operating means, a toggle, brake actuating means connected to the joint of said 'means for'moving the ends of said toggle toward each other whereby to move said toggle members further out of alignment to thereby move said brake actuating means, and means tostop said toggle movement when it has proceeded beyond predetermined desired movement of the said joint.

9. In vehicle brake applying means, a substantially horizontal rail, a slide thereon, a standard fixed thereto, a toggle pivoted at one end to said slide and at its other end to said standard, means for preventing movement of said slide away from said standard beyond a position wherein said toggle is in slight upwardly bent condition and in near parallel relation to said rail, brake operating means connected to the intermediate pivot of said toggle, means for moving said slide toward said standard whereby said toggle is bent further upwardly and said brake operating means is actuated, and latch means operable to retain said slide in a position adjacent said standard.

10. In vehicle brake applying means, a substantially horizontal rail, a slide thereon, a standard fixed thereto, a toggle pivoted at one end to said slide and at its other end to said standard, means for preventing movement of said slide away from said standard beyond a position wherein said toggle is in slight upwardly bent condition and in near parallel relation to said rail, brake operating means connected to the intermediate pivot of said toggle, means for moving said slide toward said standard whereby said toggle is bent further upwardly and said brake operating means is actuated, stop means operative to limit movement of that member of the toggle pivoted to the slide beyond a vertical position, and latch means operable to retain the last mentioned toggle member adjacent said stop means.

11. In brake operating means an element connected in operative relation to and movable to apply said brakes, a stationary rail, a slide movable lengthwise thereof, a longitudinally resilient link pivoted at one end to said slide and at the other end to said movable element, means for moving said slide and link, and means to cause said link to change position from an initial position at a small acute angle with said rail to normality therewith when said slide is moved in one direction to thereby move said brake applying element, and coacting latch parts carried by Said slide and link operable to retain the elements in brake applied position.

12. In Vehicle brake applying means, a substanfixed thereto, a toggle pivoted at one end to said slide and at its other end to said'standard, that 'llhq QllQ ng r ipren fifi a f e r n the file Q11 this Ra n SI 'ATESEA'IENTS N mb r N Date 6.53285 9 y 1 1 776,521 Levin ;Dec 6, 1904 1,35 ,932" g s Oct, 19,1920 1',B1-7f,32j Adzims Feb. 15, 1927 l.,:2 65 a 8, 1929 .4 15493" r h le -A-.------ Aug. 29, 1939 2,245,952 Cleghpl n Julie 10, 1941 

